Board unanimously reaffirms citys commitment to gender-affirming care and urges local health systems to continue services

The Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a resolution on Feb. 3 reaffirming San Franciscos commitment to the rights of transgender, gender-nonconforming, intersex and Two-Spirit residents to obtain gender-affirming care. The resolution also urges hospitals and insurers operating in the city to adhere to state and local law that recognizes gender-affirming services as medically necessary.

Supervisor Chan, who introduced the measure, added an amendment directing the Clerk to send the resolution to leadership at Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, UCSF Health and Stanford Medicine to urge continuation of services for patients in San Francisco. "These healthcare service providers are halting very critical gender-affirming care for our youth... The San Francisco Board of Supervisors have to... show solidarity," Chan said during the meeting.

Speakers from San Francisco Community Health Center, Lyon Martin Community Health Services and advocacy groups described efforts to protect patient access and urged funding for local providers. Health providers and advocates warned that pre-emptive service cutbacks threaten patient safety and that gender-affirming care reduces suicidality among young people.

The board adopted the amended resolution on a unanimous voice and roll call vote. Supervisors also discussed follow-up steps and budget priorities to protect city-funded programs and community clinics that deliver these services.

Whathappens next: The Clerk will send the adopted resolution to the named health systems and the board signaled intent to continue examining budget allocations and other concrete supports to sustain city services for transgender residents.